Monday, November 25, 2013

Cinnamon's Thanksgiving: I am Thankful for the Vancouver, WA Area Dog Parks

Here I am, hunting, at Ross Dog Park

When I can run free, my ears flapping in the breeze, and
spend an hour greeting every dog and human who enters the dog park, I am happy.
This Thanksgiving I want to say that I am very grateful for all the dog parks
in the Vancouver, WA area where I live:

In 2005, the Vancouver City Council amended the city leash
law and the Board of Clark County Commissioners amended the county code to
allow development of off-leash areas.

Since then, Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation has
partnered with Clark County DOGPAW (Dog
Owners Group for Park Access in Washington) to help identify, develop and
maintain new off-leash areas. DOGPAW also collaborates with other cities and
private property owners, like the Bonnevile Power Administration, in their
effort to develop new dog parks.

DOGPAW relies on membership fees and donations to maintain
its dog parks and build new ones in Clark County. Membership only costs
$15/year for individuals or $25/year for families, and is tax deductible. Visit
DOGPAW's website to find out more, or to sign up online: www.clarkdogpaw.org.

Ross Off-Leash Dog Recreation Area (west
Vancouver)
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) donated use of nine acres on the
south end of the Ross Complex for an off-leash area. DOGPAW members put up fences, installed waste
disposal stations, drafted rules for canine and human users of the park, and
are responsible for maintaining the park. This is the first collaboration of
its kind between the city of Vancouver, BPA and DOGPAW.

Dakota Memorial Dog Park at Pacific
Community Park (east Vancouver)
This 8-acre dog park is located on the north side of Pacific
Community Park, on NE 18th Street between 164th and 172nd Avenue in east
Vancouver. It is fully fenced with two double-gated entrances accessible from
the two parking lots inside the community park. Please note that dogs
must be leashed in the parking lot and in all other areas outside the
fenced dog park. The dog park features a gravel perimeter trail through open
lawn and forested areas, a rustic log agility course, benches and drinking
fountains. A dog rinse off area is located on the back side of the restroom on
the west side of the park closest to NE 164th Avenue (Note: Dogs must be
leashed at the rinse off area and all other areas outside the dog park). A
separate area for dogs under 25 pounds is available on this site.

Brush Prairie Off-Leash
Dog Park
Clark County partnered with DOGPAW to develop this 7.5-acre dog park in 2008. It
is located adjacent to the Lauretta Noreen Forest Preserve on NE 149th Street
at NE 101st Place, on the west side of NE 117th Avenue (State Route 503). It
includes a separate one-acre small (under 25 lbs) dog area.

The park, which is fully fenced with a double-gated entrance
accessible on 149th Street, has limited on-site parking. Overflow parking is
available at the nearby Center for Agriculture, Science, and Environmental
Education (CASEE), at11104 N.E. 149th Street.

Stevenson Off-Leash Area
Clark County DOGPAW partnered with the city of Washougal in 2009 to develop
this park, which is located at 3003 Addy St., just north of State Route 14 in
Washougal. The site is 7.5 acres in size with a separate, one-acre space for
small (under 25 lbs) dogs.

Westside of Bi-Mart between Main St and Addy St
(45.576787,-122.340231)

From
the North, take I-205 exit 27 (Lewis and Clark Hwy/WA-14 toward Camas)

From
the South, take I-5 exit 1A (Lewis and Clark Hwy/WA-14 toward Camas)

Turn
left at 32nd St

Turn
left at Addy St

Destination
will be on the right

Parking
courtesy of Bi-Mart at 3003 Addy St, Washougal, WA 98671

Kane Memorial Dog Park at Hockinson Meadows Community
Park
DOGPAW partnered with Clark County and Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation in
2011 to develop this 2.5-acre park inside Hockinson
Meadows Community Park at 10910 NE 172nd Ave., north of NE 99th Street. It
is fully fenced and gated. There is no separate area for small dogs at this
park. Dogs must be leashed when outside the dog park, including on the main
public trails and in the parking lots. Maps
and other information.